VALHALLA, NY (December 30, 2025) — Westchester County is set to fully implement the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s OMNY contactless fare payment system on its Bee-Line bus fleet starting Jan. 4, 2026.
County Executive Ken Jenkins toured the Bee-Line Bus garage in Valhalla to inspect newly installed OMNY fare scanners on the buses. The visit highlighted completion of the installation across the entire fleet ahead of the countywide launch at 5 a.m. on Jan. 4.
Starting that day, Bee-Line fares will adjust to match MTA rates. The base and on-board cash fare will rise 25 cents, while reduced fares for seniors and people with disabilities will increase 15 cents. A separate adjustment applies to the BxM4C express route.
The alignment enables Bee-Line riders to keep free transfers to MTA subways and buses and qualify for a seven-day OMNY fare cap of $35 for unlimited trips, excluding the BxM4C. Reduced-fare riders will have a $17.50 cap.
“Westchester deserves a transportation system that works the way people live today,” Jenkins said. “Installing OMNY across our entire Bee-Line fleet is about making transit easier, faster and more reliable for riders while ensuring access for everyone. This is a smart investment in modern public transportation that strengthens mobility across our County.”
Liberty Lines Transit President Thomas Murphy said the new system will enhance convenience and modernize boarding.
“Our staff has worked closely with the County to support the installation and launch of OMNY for Bee-Line riders,” Murphy said. “The new fare payment option is designed to enhance convenience and modernize the boarding process, contributing to an improved overall payment options and experience for the many customers who rely on the Bee-Line system each day.”
Department of Public Works and Transportation Commissioner Hugh Greechan described the project as a fleet-wide effort involving coordination, testing and installation.
“This was a fleet-wide effort that required coordination, testing and hands-on work across all Bee-Line buses,” Greechan said. “Our team worked closely with Liberty Lines to install the OMNY equipment efficiently and safely so riders can benefit from a modern fare system starting day one.”
Department of Planning Commissioner Blanca Lopez noted her department’s role in logistics, database integration and public outreach.
“The Department of Planning played a key role in coordinating logistics of the OMNY rollout, including work on the back-end databases critical to OMNY operations on Bee-Line, integration with the system’s on-board technology, and coordination of program timing and public outreach,” Lopez said. “OMNY brings Westchester in line with transit systems across the region and helps ensure riders have access to a simple, consistent fare payment experience.”
Riders may continue using valid MetroCards after the launch. MetroCard sales end Dec. 31, 2025, and reloading stops after that date. Remaining balances can transfer to OMNY cards via the OMNY Mobile Sales Van visiting Westchester locations.
Weekly or monthly MetroCards must be activated by Jan. 31, 2026, to remain valid. OMNY cards are available at select retailers; locations are listed at https://omny.info/retail-locations.
Coin payments remain accepted on Bee-Line buses.
More details are available at http://www.westchestergov.com/beelinebus or by calling Bee-Line customer service at (914) 813-7777.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.